TracMyAir smartphone application for modeling exposures to PM and ozone - Integration with air quality networks and location-activity sensors.

Epidemiologic studies of ambient fine particulate matter (PM) and ozone (O) often use outdoor concentrations from central-site monitors or air quality model estimates as exposure surrogates, which can result in exposure errors. We previously developed an exposure model called TracMyAir, which is an iPhone application that determines seven tiers of individual-level exposure metrics for ambient PM and O using outdoor concentrations, home building characteristics, weather, time-activities. The exposure metrics with increasing information needs and complexity include: outdoor concentration (C, Tier 1), building infiltration factor (F, Tier 2), indoor concentration (C, Tier 3), time spent in microenvironments (ME) (T, Tier 4), personal exposure factor (F, Tier 5), exposure (E, Tier 6), and inhaled dose (D, Tier 7).

Analysis of PM, black carbon, and trace metals measurements from the Kansas City Transportation and Local-Scale Air Quality Study (KC-TRAQS).

Communities near transportation sources can be impacted by higher concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and other air pollutants. Few studies have reported on air quality in complex urban environments with multiple transportation sources. To better understand these environments, the Kansas City Transportation and Local-Scale Air Quality Study (KC-TRAQS) was conducted in three neighborhoods in Southeast Kansas City, Kansas.

Assessment of Chemical Facility Ethylene Oxide Emissions Using Mobile and Multipoint Monitoring.

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a hazardous air pollutant that can be emitted from a variety of difficult to measure industrial sources, such as fugitive leaks, wastewater handling, and episodic releases. Emerging next generation emission measurement (NGEM) approaches capable of time-resolved, low parts per billion by volume (ppbv) method detection limits (MDLs) can help facilities understand and reduce EtO and other air pollutant emissions from these sources yielding a range of environmental and public health benefits. In October 2021, a first of its kind 4-day observational study was conducted at an EtO chemical facility in the midwestern United States.

Adults with Severe Psychiatric Symptoms in a Community Partial Hospitalization Program: Characteristics and Predictors of Clinical Response.

Mental health wellbeing is a critical element in the overall wellbeing of an individual. Severe mental health issues are directly connected with the individual's functioning and negatively impacts the quality of life. Inpatient psychiatric hospitalization does help significantly in stabilizing the acute serious mental health problems; however, the utility of community partial hospitalization program (PHP) has not been studied extensively.

Evaluating mobile monitoring of on-road emission factors by comparing concurrent PEMS measurements.

Many countries have adopted portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) testing in their latest regulations to measure real-world vehicular emissions. However, its fleetwide implementation is severely limited by the high equipment costs and lengthy setup procedures, posing a need to develop more cost-effective, efficient emission measurement methods, such as mobile chasing tests. We conducted conjoint PEMS-chasing experiments for twelve heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDTs) to evaluate the accuracy of mobile measurement results.

Enhancing the local air quality benefits of roadside green infrastructure using low-cost, impermeable, solid structures (LISS).

Communities located in near-road environments face adverse health effects due to elevated exposures to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP). While the use of a combination of solid structures (i.e.

Identifying air pollution source impacts in urban communities using mobile monitoring.

With increasing population, rapid urbanization, and increased migration to cities, the local impacts of increasing transportation and industrial-related air pollution are of growing concern worldwide. Elevated air pollution concentrations near these types of sources have been linked to adverse health effects including acute and chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Mobile monitoring has proven to be a useful technique to characterize spatial variability of air pollution in urban areas and pollution concentration gradients from specific sources.

Combining Dispersion Modeling and Monitoring Data for Community-Scale Air Quality Characterization.

Spatially and temporally resolved air quality characterization is critical for community-scale exposure studies and for developing future air quality mitigation strategies. Monitoring-based assessments can characterize local air quality when enough monitors are deployed. However, modeling plays a vital role in furthering the understanding of the relative contributions of emissions sources impacting the community.

Rubbertown Next Generation Emissions Measurement Demonstration Project.

Industrial facilities and other sources can emit air pollutants from fugitive leaks, process malfunctions and area sources that can be difficult to understand and to manage. Next generation emissions measurement (NGEM) approaches executed near facilities are enabling new ways to assess these sources and their impacts to nearby populations. This paper describes complementary uses of emerging NGEM systems in a Louisville, KY industrial district (Rubbertown), focusing on an important area air toxic, 1,3-butadiene.

The Kansas City Transportation and Local-Scale Air Quality Study (KC-TRAQS): Integration of Low-Cost Sensors and Reference Grade Monitoring in a Complex Metropolitan Area. Part 1: Overview of the Project.

Emissions from transportation sources can impact local air quality and contribute to adverse health effects. The Kansas City Transportation and Local-Scale Air Quality Study (KC-TRAQS), conducted over a 1-year period, researched emissions source characterization in the Argentine, Turner, and Armourdale, Kansas (KS) neighborhoods and the broader southeast Kansas City, KS area. This area is characterized as a near-source environment with impacts from large railyard operations, major roadways, and commercial and industrial facilities.

The effects of roadside vegetation characteristics on local, near-road air quality.

Roadside vegetation has been shown to impact downwind, near-road air quality, with some studies identifying reductions in air pollution concentrations and others indicating increases in pollutant levels when vegetation is present. These widely contradictory results have resulted in confusion regarding the capability of vegetative barriers to mitigate near-road air pollution, which numerous studies have associated with significant adverse human health effects. Roadside vegetation studies have investigated the impact of many different types and conditions of vegetation barriers and urban forests, including preserved, existing vegetation stands usually consisting of mixtures of trees and shrubs or plantings of individual trees.

On-Road Chemical Transformation as an Important Mechanism of NO Formation.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO) not only is linked to adverse effects on the respiratory system but also contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone (O) and fine particulate matter (PM). Our curbside monitoring data analysis in Detroit, MI, and Atlanta, GA, strongly suggests that a large fraction of NO is produced during the "tailpipe-to-road" stage. To substantiate this finding, we designed and carried out a field campaign to measure the same exhaust plumes at the tailpipe-level by a portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) and at the on-road level by an electric vehicle-based mobile platform.

Near-port air quality assessment utilizing a mobile measurement approach.

Mobile monitoring is a strategy to characterize spatially and temporally variable air pollution in areas near sources. EPA's Geospatial Measurement of Air Pollution (GMAP) vehicle - an all-electric vehicle is outfitted with a number of measurement devices to record real-time concentrations of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants - was used to map air pollution levels near the Port of Charleston in South Carolina. High-resolution monitoring was performed along driving routes near several port terminals and rail yard facilities, recording geospatial coordinates and concentrations of pollutants including black carbon, size-resolved particle count ranging from ultrafine to coarse (6 nm-20 μm), carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

Assessment of Uinta Basin Oil and Natural Gas Well Pad Pneumatic Controller Emissions.

In the fall of 2016, a field study was conducted in the Uinta Basin Utah to improve information on oil and natural gas well pad pneumatic controllers (PCs). A total of 80 PC systems at five oil sites (supporting six wells) and three gas sites (supporting 12 wells) were surveyed, and emissions data were produced using a combination of measurements and engineering emission estimates. Ninety-six percent of the PCs surveyed were low actuation frequency intermittent vent type.

Evaluation and development of tools to quantify the impacts of roadside vegetation barriers on near-road air quality.

Traffic emissions are associated with the elevation of health risks of people living close to highways. Roadside vegetation barriers have the potential of reducing these risks by decreasing near-road air pollution concentrations. However, while we understand the mechanisms that determine the mitigation caused by solid barriers, we still have questions about how vegetative barriers affect dispersion.

Roadside vegetation barrier designs to mitigate near-road air pollution impacts.

With increasing evidence that exposures to air pollution near large roadways increases risks of a number of adverse human health effects, identifying methods to reduce these exposures has become a public health priority. Roadside vegetation barriers have shown the potential to reduce near-road air pollution concentrations; however, the characteristics of these barriers needed to ensure pollution reductions are not well understood. Designing vegetation barriers to mitigate near-road air pollution requires a mechanistic understanding of how barrier configurations affect the transport of traffic-related air pollutants.

On the interaction of copper(II) with disulfiram.

In combination with copper(II) ions, disulfiram (DSF) has been reported to be a potentially potent anticancer agent based on in vitro results. The interaction of DSF with copper(II) chloride in solution has been studied using a range of spectroscopic techniques. There is strong evidence for the rapid formation of the bis(N,N-diethyl dithiocarbamato)copper(II) complex in situ.

Field assessment of the effects of roadside vegetation on near-road black carbon and particulate matter.

One proposed method for reducing exposure to mobile source air pollution is the construction or preservation of vegetation barriers between major roads and nearby populations. This study combined stationary and mobile monitoring approaches to determine the effects of an existing, mixed-species tree stand on near-road black carbon (BC) and particulate matter concentrations. Results indicated that wind direction and time of day significantly affected pollutant concentrations behind the tree stand.

Inflammatory bowel disease in children: psychological and psychiatric issues.

The overlap between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and psychiatric disorders has been studied extensively. We reviewed the limited literature targeting the complex relationship between IBD and psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Findings from this review were compared with findings from available studies in adults.

Recommendations for pharmacological management of inpatient aggression in children and adolescents.

Objective. While there has been a great deal of speculation by clinical researchers over the last three decades on effective and safe methods for the pharmacological management of aggression in children and adolescents, it is only in the last decade that there have been well-designed studies available to address this issue. Medication is commonly used to control aggression in children and adolescents in inpatient units.

Collaborative problem solving (CPS) as a primary method of addressing acute pediatric pathological aggression along with other modalities.

The answer for treating pathologic aggression (PA) in children on inpatient psychiatry units (based on various factors like severity of aggression and co-morbidities) is less likely to be restrictive interventions or sedating the patient. Using seclusion and restraints or medications to calm down the aggression is not free of adverse consequences. A protocol is needed to safely and effectively address aggressive and violent children and adolescents seen very commonly in psychiatry inpatient units.